Brody disappeared for a short while, his deep voice mingling with Savannah’s and coming from the direction of the kitchen. Savannah always brought a servant with her every time she and Brody came up from the Double L Ranch on the Front Range. The servant cooked and cleaned and took care of Hartley while Savannah helped with the wild mustangs and offered her vet services to the Healing Springs livestock.

As Savannah and Hartley entered the room with Brody, Ivy welcomed them with a smile. Hartley had blond hair like Savannah but was stocky and tough like his pa. Though Savannah tried to corral Hartley and keep him from climbing up next to Ivy, she eventually gave in and let Hartley up on the bed while she brushed and braided Ivy’s hair.

By the time Ivy finished a few bites of eggs and toast, she was tired again and pushed aside her plate. Before she could recline, Flynn rushed inside the room, bringing the familiar scent of the barn and cattle with him.

At the sight of her sitting in bed, he halted and hung his head. His shoulders heaved up and down several times before he pulled in a deep breath, swiping at his eyes.

“I’m fine and dandy, Flynn.”

“You sure?”

“Sure as heaven above.”

At her usual response, Flynn wiped at his eyes again.

“I never did see so many grown men blubbering all in one day.” She couldn’t keep from teasing her brothers. “Reckon I need to get you all real mad so you stop making such a fuss over me.”

With a grin, Flynn crossed to her. When he reached her bedside, he bent and wrapped her into a hug, holding her tightly for several moments. She couldn’t remember the last time Flynn had hugged her, probably not since she’d gotten the news of Ma’s death. Even then, the hug had been brief, mainly because Ivy hadn’t been all that sad.

“Thank the Lord Almighty.” Flynn pulled back enough to see Ivy’s face. “Don’t you ever go doing something as stupid as getting stabbed again.”

“I’ll try not to.”

“Good. Don’t wanna have to give you a whupping.”

She smiled at his attempt at teasing her back.

For several minutes, Flynn asked her how she was feeling, assessing her as best he could. “The doc’s been coming every day. Been injecting the wound with bromine. But Brody’s been working out his own remedies with a few concoctions he saw some of the Southern doctors use during the war to keep infection from spreading.”

Brody had picked up the squirming Hartley and was busy tickling him and earning the sweet sound of giggles.